A company's annual financial statements will comprise of (a) a balance sheet as at the financial year end date, (b) a profit and loss account for the financial year, and (c) any other additional statements and information required by the financial reporting framework adopted in relation to the company. They must give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the company as at the financial year end date. (Sections 289 - 296 of Companies 2014).

A company's financial year begins on the day immediately after its previous financial year end and continues for a 12 month period.

Yes, the directors of a company are required to prepare financial statements for the company in respect of each financial year. If the company fails to comply with this requirement, the company and any officer of it who is in default will be guilty of a category 2 offence.

Yes, every member of the company has a right to receive a copy of the company's statutory financial statements not less than 21 days before the general meeting which they are laid. (Sections 338 & 339 of the Companies Act 2014 refer).

The board of directors approve the statutory financial statements of the company when they are satisfied the financial statements give a true and fair view of the company's financial position and comply with the Companies Act.

Following approval, two directors will sign the financial statements on behalf of the board of directors. (Section 324 Companies Act 2014 refers).

It should be noted that Section 324(7) states that "every director of the company at the time the statutory financial statement are approved shall be taken to be party to their approval unless he or she shows that he or she took all reasonable steps to prevent their being approved."

Yes, the directors of a company are required to lay the Statutory Financial Statements for each year before the members at the AGM. The financial statements laid before the AGM should be within 9 months of the financial year end date (Section 341 of the Companies Act 2014).

Yes, subject to compliance with Section 288 of the Companies Act 2014. Application should be made to the Companies Registration Office (CRO) on the prescribed form - Form B83 link https://www.cro.ie/Publications/Company-Forms